Son raises a K-8 army in honor of mom's cancer fight

Blaine Tigers have $700 and counting for Race for the Cure

CHERIE BLAC, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

By CHERIE BLACK, P-I REPORTER

Updated 10:00 pm, Thursday, June 19, 2008

Aidan Maifeld, a 12-year-old at Catharine Blaine K-8, recruited students from his school to help raise more than $700 for the Race for the Cure in honor of his mom, Sharon Maifeld, who has breast cancer.
Photo: Dan DeLong/Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Aidan Maifeld is comfortable talking about breast cancer. Since his mother's diagnosis two years ago, the 12-year-old has witnessed the disease from the frontlines.

He and his younger brother would sit and play video games while his mother underwent daily chemotherapy sessions. He walked with her and other friends and family during a breast cancer fundraiser last June.

This year, as Sharon Maifeld continues to battle the disease, which has progressed into its final stages -- despite two mastectomies -- Aidan has taken it upon himself to organize his own team for this year's fundraiser in honor of his mother.

As part of a community project for his sixth-grade leadership class at Catharine Blaine K-8 in Magnolia, Aidan created the Blaine Tigers -- a team of students who will walk together during Saturday's Race for the Cure.

When he started recruiting in February, Aidan visited each classroom to give a speech about breast cancer and passed out registration forms to all of his classmates. He set a goal of $300 and expected only two or three of his friends to sign up, but the donations rolled in quickly, prompting a new goal of $500.

He's now raised more than $700 and has 15 classmates on his team, with more expected by race day.

"The root of this is he wanted to help a cause that affects his mom," said his teacher, Mike Anderson. "It's been good for him to see he can make an impact."

Tall and lanky with braces, Aidan talks softly about his mother's disease. He doesn't get nervous or scared about what might happen to her; he's convinced that his mother will be cured.

But his shyness disappears when he starts talking about this weekend's race. He's already vowing to do it again next year, raising twice as much.

"It is amazing to me to watch and see how it grows -- what I thought would just be him and two other friends has just grown," Sharon Maifeld said about her son's efforts. "It's so good to know these kids are leading the charge."

In 2007, an estimated 178,480 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and about 40,460 died from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.

Breast cancer survivors who have learned of Aidan's team are inspired by his efforts and initiative to help his mother and others with the disease.

Char Davis, who also lives in Magnolia, calls the team the pride of the neighborhood. During the past four decades, seven women in her family have been struck with breast cancer. Three have died, but Davis, diagnosed in 2004, is one of the survivors.

"He grabs my heart and gives me that extra-special spark that I need as a volunteer to keep doing what I do," said Davis, who has also has a Race for the Cure team -- in honor of her mother, and her brother, who died of prostate cancer last year. She donated $100 to Aidan and his team.

"Aidan is the generation that will find the cure," she said. "His enthusiasm makes the competition among race teams fun."

Catharine Blaine Principal Heather Swanson calls Aidan's efforts "a real testament to what kids can do if given the opportunity."

"I'm always amazed every day by how I get humbled by what these kids can do," Swanson said. "It says that here's a kid who felt comfortable enough to talk about cancer and took the initiative to get his classmates involved. None of the teachers are involved -- he wanted to do it all on his own."

Maifeld, who now undergoes chemotherapy once a month, holds back tears when talking about her son and what he's gone through since her diagnosis.

Though the family remains positive, she is overwhelmed by the dedication and initiative her son has shown.

"It's the next generation led by a 12 year-old boy," she said. "Now if I can just get him to clean his room."